swelter

¹swel·ter

verb \ˈswel-tər\

swel·teredswel·ter·ing\-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of SWELTER

intransitive verb

1

: to suffer, sweat, or be faint from heat

2

: to become exceedingly hot <in summer, the place swelters>

transitive verb

1

: to oppress with heat

2

archaic : exude <sweltered venom — Shakespeare>

Examples of SWELTER

1. We were sweltering in the summer heat.

Origin of SWELTER

Middle English sweltren, frequentative of swelten to die, be overcome by heat, from Old English sweltan to die; akin to Gothic swiltan to die

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with SWELTER

belter, melter, pelter, shelter, skelter, smelter, spelter, welter